10 Party Food Ideas on a Budget

Presentation is a big part of party flair. With this simple idea, you can offer guests tasty nibbles presented so elegantly that it doesn't look like you're pinching pennies. Start with a small selection of bite-sized pieces of fruit, fresh veggies, cheeses, herbs and other morsels. Plan your selections around foods that are in season; they're cheaper then. You'll also need a bag of small plastic or bamboo skewers. Slide three to four morsels onto the pointy end. For example, you could spear a cube of toasted French bread, a sliver of mozzarella cheese, a basil leaf and half a cherry tomato. On the fruity side, use a bite-sized apple slice, a nugget of cheddar cheese and a grape. Don't slide the bites too far up the skewer. They should be easy to nibble off without getting poked. Arrange the skewers on a platter, or place the sharp points into a melon or decorated Styrofoam ball to make an edible centerpiece.